Barbara Ward Lectures

Lectures by the current generation of outstanding women in development, in honour of IIED's founder, Barbara Ward

A woman stands at a podium in the foreground, while a large seated audience listens.

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2024 Barbara Ward Lecture: put social justice at the heart of sustainable development, says Mafalda Duarte

14 June 2024

View of a forest with a volcano in the background

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2021 Barbara Ward Lecture: Rebeca Grynspan says nothing is ever so small that it cannot make a difference

16 December 2021

Gro Harlem Brundtland's speech was followed by a question and answer session with the audience (Photo: Julius Honnor/Contentious)

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2018 Barbara Ward Lecture: Gro Harlem Brundtland calls for people to speak out against simplistic politics of populism

15 June 2018

Urban climate action champion Debra Roberts gave the 2016 Barbara Ward Lecture (Image: IIED)

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2016 Barbara Ward Lecture: Debra Roberts says global urbanisation strategy needs greater focus on practical implementation

11 October 2016

Fatima Denton delivers the 2014 Barbara Ward Lecture at the British Library in London in November 2014 (Photo: Julius Honnor/IIED)

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2014 Barbara Ward Lecture: Fatima Denton calls for a "new paradigm" for African development

Event on 20 November 2014

Christiana Figueres is executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. She used her appearance at the 2012 Barbara Ward Lecture to call for an "energy revolution"

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2012 Barbara Ward Lecture: Christiana Figueres calls for an "energy revolution"

Event on 09 March 2012

Connie Hedegaard stressed the importance of setting tough targets for reducing carbon emissions when she gave the 2010 Barbara Ward Lecture

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2010 Barbara Ward Lecture: Connie Hedegaard suggests tougher targets for CO2

Event on 11 May 2010

Shack dwellers from the eThekwini municipality protesting in Durban (Photo: Slum/Shack Dwellers International)

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2008 Barbara Ward Lecture: Lindiwe Sisulu on managing relationships between the state and the urban poor

Event on 15 July 2008

Mary Robinson called on the international community to focus on the human rights aspect of climate change when she gave the inaugural Barbara Ward lecture in London

2006 Barbara Ward Lecture: Mary Robinson makes climate change a justice issue

Event on 11 December 2006

The Barbara Ward Lecture series celebrates IIED's founder, Barbara Ward, a distinguished economist, journalist, and policy advisor who was among the earliest advocates of sustainable development.

Also a renowned speaker, Ward's lectures influenced audiences around the world. Now the institute organises lectures by the current generation of outstanding women in development in honour of Ward's pioneering work and the inspiration she gave to many.